The Kaitaia and Taipa dojos of the Kiaido Ruy Martial Arts Club enjoyed unprecedented success when 14 students passed grading at Thames High School on June 30, with three singled out as recipients for four prestigious awards.
The Far North martial artists graded at Thames - and featuring in the accompanying photo - were as follows:
Jarrod Harrison (Kaitaia) from orange to blue belt and also junior male budo of the year; Hermione Lesley Pomare purple to green belt and also junior female budo of the year and overall KRMA junior female budo of the year; then, John Patrick Reihana Tahu (Kaitaia dojo) yellow to orange belt, Brownie Martin Walters (Kaitaia) orange to blue belt, William Francis Pomare (Kaitaia) purple to green belt, Joshua Clarke Smith (Taipa) yellow to orange belt, Darrian Snow (Kaitaia) orange to blue belt, Sempai Rose Dermer (main instructor), Charlotte Rose Tahu (Kaitaia) yellow to orange belt, and also senior female budo award for the Kaitaia dojo, Kim Crosby (Taipa) yellow to orange belt, Kathleen T Pomare (Kaitaia) green to brown belt and, potentially, a "future black belt", Azara Hill Lydiard (Kaitaia) yellow to orange belt, Kauri Tainui, James Cameron orange to blue belt, Daniel Pomare, and Sempai AJ Dermer.
The club's main instructor, Sempai Rose Dermer, noted everyone had a marvellous time, apart from the fact that it was "freezing", and said the results were just reward for the students' diligence and applied efforts over the past few months.
"They deserve it for showing the best they could. I'm pleased to see them stepping up in different level into their ranks. Each rank gets harder as they progress but they will learn more!"
Dermer noted the annual grading in Thames saw several new skills introduced this year with shodan grading taking place on the Friday night, and all rank, including nidan and renshi, being held on the Saturday. She was planning to introduce nidan grading to the Far North in 2013 and was also hoping to see a couple of her students earn black belt status next year as well.
Overall, the club's expanding profile in the local community had been pleasing, with a steady increase in membership over recent months. As well, planning was already well underway for the major end-of-year camp featuring grading and the club's annual prizegiving awards, which will be held in the Kaitaia Primary School hall in October.